森の眠り姫

森の眠り姫

The Sleeping Beauty in the Wood

昔あるところに国王と王妃がいたが、二人は子供がいないことを言葉では言い表せないほど悲しんでいた。世界中のあらゆる名湯へと足を運び、願掛けや巡礼など、ありとあらゆる手を尽くしたものの、すべて徒労に終わった。

There were formerly a King and a Queen, who were so sorry that they had no children, so sorry that it cannot be expressed. They went to all the waters in the world; vows, pilgrimages, all ways were tried and all to no purpose.

だがついに王妃は身ごもり、女の子を産み落とした。

At last, however, the Queen proved with child, and was brought to bed of a daughter.

たいそう見事な洗礼式が執り行われ、王女の名付け親には国中で見つかったすべての妖精たち（七人見つかった）が迎えられた。これは当時の妖精たちの慣習に従い、めいめいが王女に贈り物を授けられるようにするためであり、それによって王女が考えうる限りのあらゆる美徳を兼ね備えられるようにするためであった。

There was a very fine christening; and the Princess had for her godmothers all the Fairies they could find in the whole kingdom (they found seven), that every one of them might give her a gift, as was the custom of Fairies in those days, and that by this means the Princess might have all the perfections imaginable.

洗礼の儀式が終わると、一同は国王の宮殿へと戻り、そこでは妖精たちのために盛大な祝宴が用意されていた。

After the ceremonies of the christening were over, all the company returned to the King’s palace, where was prepared a great feast for the Fairies.

妖精たち一人ひとりの前には豪奢な食器揃えとともに、純金づくりの箱が置かれ、その中にはすべて純金製でダイヤモンドとルビーが散りばめられたスプーン、ナイフ、フォークが収められていた。

There was placed before every one of them a magnificent cover with a case of massive gold, wherein were a spoon, knife and fork, all of pure gold set with diamonds and rubies.

しかし、皆が食卓に着こうとしたそのとき、広間に招かれてもいない一人の非常に年老いた妖精が入ってくるのが見えた。この老妖精はある塔から五十年以上も外に出ておらず、死んだか魔法をかけられたものと思われていたからであった。

But as they were all sitting down at table, they saw come into the hall a very old Fairy whom they had not invited, because it was above fifty years since she had been out of a certain tower, and she was believed to be either dead or inchanted.

国王は彼女にも食器を用意するよう命じたが、他の妖精たちのような金の箱をあてがうことはできなかった。なぜなら、その箱は七人の妖精のために七つしか作らせていなかったからである。老妖精は自分が軽んじられたと思い込み、歯の隙間から何やら脅し文句を呟いた。

The King ordered her a cover, but could not furnish her with a case of gold as the others, because they had seven only made for the seven Fairies. The old Fairy fancied she was slighted, and muttered some threat between her teeth.

彼女の隣に座っていた若い妖精の一人がその不平を耳にした。そして、この老妖精が幼い王女に不吉な贈り物を授けるかもしれないと察し、一同が席を立つやいなや、自分が最後に言葉を発し、老妖精が企むであろう害悪を可能な限り繕えるよう、壁掛けの後ろへと身を隠した。

One of the young Fairies, who sat by her, overheard how she grumbled; and judging that she might give the little Princess some unlucky gift, went, as soon as they rose from the table, and hid herself behind the hangings, that she might speak last, and repair, as much as possible she could, the evil which the old Fairy might intend.

その間に、妖精たちは皆、王女に贈り物を授け始めた。

In the mean while all the Fairies began to give their gifts to the Princess.

一番若い妖精は世界で最も美しい人間になるという贈り物を授け、次の妖精は天使のような知恵を、三人目は行いの一つひとつに素晴らしい気品が備わることを、四人目は完璧な見事さで踊れることを、五人目はサヨナキドリのように歌えることを、そして六人目はあらゆる楽器をこの上なく完璧に奏でられることを授けた。

The youngest gave her for gift, that she should be the most beautiful person in the world; the next, that she should have the wit of an angel; the third, that she should have a wonderful grace in every thing she did; the fourth, that she should dance perfectly well; the fifth, that she should sing like a nightingale; and the sixth, that she should play upon all kinds of music to the utmost perfection.

次に老妖精の番が回ってくると、彼女は老齢によるものというよりは悪意によって頭を震わせながら、王女は紡錘で手を刺し貫かれ、その傷がもとで死ぬであろうと言い放った。

The old Fairy’s turn coming next, with a head shaking more with spite than age, she said, that the Princess should have her hand pierced with a spindle, and die of the wound.

この恐ろしい贈り物は一座の者を震え上がらせ、誰もが泣き崩れた。

This terrible gift made the whole company tremble, and every body fell a-crying.

まさにこの瞬間、若い妖精が壁掛けの後ろから姿を現し、声高らかにこう語った。

At this very instant the young Fairy came out from behind the hangings, and spake these words aloud: